By Obakeng Maje

Over R1, 5 billion was spend to alleviate water shortage and give more rural communities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District access to clean running water 

 during the past three financial years. This milestone was noted at the North West Executive Council Extended Lekgotla that was chaired by North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise in Mahikeng on Wednesday.

Over Four hundred and ten thousand households benefitted during implementation of 35 projects that were implemented in the district. Water shortage was alleviated in Khibitswane, Pudumoe, Bray and 

 Mokassa 

 villages while bulk water was provided in Vryburg, Pudumoe, Greater Naledi and Mamusa 

 Districts. 

 Rural Water Supply was extended to needy communities, raw water abstraction pipelines at Wentzel Dam were upgraded and emergency repairs to water works done.

Sewer treatment plants were also upgraded 

 in Vryburg, Bloemhof, Schweitzer Reneke, Christiana and Free Basic Water and management of Water Supply Provision implemented in Naledi, Mausa and Lekwa Teemane Local Municipalities and provision of oxidation ponds in Amalia, Ganyesa,Bray and Tosca.

Theft and vandalism of water and sanitation infrastructure were identified as challenges that disrupt supply of water.

Premier Modise used the planning session to appeal to municipalities to use Municipal Infrastructure Grants allocated to them for the purpose for which they have been allocated and not to divert such funds towards payment of salaries and or unsustainable projects.

“We should spend more towards rendering services to our communities than on wages,” she emphasised

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By Obakeng Maje

Every time you listening to the news bulletin, you hear a presentable person behind the mic who constantly keeps you informed about what is happening around the world.

These presentable and knowledgeable professionals are news readers or news presenters. Be it broadcasting from a small news agency or a big one at an international level, the news presenter is the one who has to execute it and give the right information to the people listening.

We sitting with 22 year-old Modimong-born presenter who takes us through his hard-work and that determination which are his keys to succed….so seat back and relax while Valtar FM news achor take us through.

A 22 year old Patrick Otumiseng Sebego is one of the fundemental and determined newreaders at Vaaltar Community Radio station based in Taung,North West.

He was born and bred in Johannesburg in West Rand and is not only a charm looking lad, he also got brain too.

“I was born 22 years ago and went to school at Muldersdrift Laerskool in johannesburg. Then when I was about to do my secondary, I moved back home and matriculated at Pinagare High in Taung” Sebego said.

A vavicious voice lad believe that only education is the key to success. After matric,he went on to study Information Technology(IT) at Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, Free State.

“Education to me is the key or break-away from poverty.So after finishing my matric back in 2008 I decided to further studies” he said.

“Information Technology is one course that I liked.I was so curious about what it is all about and tend to love it” Otumiseng smiles.

“I couldn’t finish my course and I hope to finish off few modules am left with so I can be a now qualified Internet Developer” Sebego said.

We asked him about him move to become a newsreader and what prompted him.

Otumiseng said he has been inspired by the likes of former YFM newsreaders,Thato Moeng and Terrance.

“I was inspired by the most renowned newsreaders out there. l liked the way they sounded while behind the mic” he said.

“I worked as a newsreader for a campus radio and this year in April I approached Vaaltar FM. Fortunately the management loved my talent, as they say the rest is history” Sebego outlines.

He was born from six children and his brother,Zane Sebego is one of the finest presenters at Aganang Fm in Potchefstroom.

Patrick Sebego believe that he will be running his own IT company.

“As a youth do not seatback and say there no jobs and  you end up losing hope. Try something that will change your life at the end of the day” he asserted.

The Skills You Need to become a newsreader.

Being a news anchor demands a number of skills. The first among them is to do away with any form of mic fright.

The career jobs in News Reader is all about the right presentation in front of the camera or on air.

A news reader not only delivers the news but also has to work towards making the viewers/listeners hooked onto the particular channel. Here come the little show business in the profession and one has to have the knack for it.

However, with time and work experience, one can easily learn these things and make it big in the field.

A news reader must also be alert and a quick thinker. Most of the time, the news readers might be reading scripts from the teleprompter or notes that are available.

However, there are times when they have to present news by listening to oral details from the producer. Like for example, in case of breaking news, a pre-written script is not possible.

In such a time, the producer briefs the anchor on the situation and in return the news reader has to inform the viewers/listeners about the matter in a clear, yet concise manner.

Education and Skills Requirements

Generally, to become a news reader, one has to have an under graduate degree in Journalism and mass communication. There isn’t any particular course that is offer to becoming a news reader.

Hence, a degree in Journalism and mass communication becomes mandatory for all.

The aspiring news reader however might join a few institutes that offer a course in news reading.

These might not be enough qualification but still gives an experience of the news setting environment. Apart from this, there are news presenters who have worked as reporters and the gradually move to a news desk. Like all other profession.

Even here, work experience matters the most. One might also look for internships with newspapers or other broadcasting station as it adds to the profile of a Journalist.

Gradually, a news reader gets better and can change from one station to another for getting better work opportunities.

You can listen to Patrick Otumiseng Sebego from Monday-Friday while keeping you captivated about what is going on around the world.

Log in to Vaaltar Fm on 93.6 or http://www.vaaltar.co.za on stream audio.

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By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg Police are investigating a case of arson and malicious damage to property after a Training Centre was allegedly burnt down in the early hours of today.

The incident occurred at Jabula Hostel of the Anglo Platinum mine in Rustenburg on Thursday morning.

“It is alleged that the perpetrators also burnt down two conveyer belts. One was burnt between UG2 and Batho Pele shaft and the second conveyer belt was burnt at Khuseleka shaft number 2.  The culprits managed to flee the scene” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane.

No arrest have been made and the cases are still under investigation.

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Johannesburg – An application by the State for leave to appeal the bail granted to a teenager accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm will be heard on Thursday.

The 16-year-old boy appeared briefly in the Griekwastad Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Prosecutor JJ Cloete contended that the magistrate erred in finding that the boy was not dangerous to those around him.

In his motion of notice, Cloete said that during his bail application, the boy gave no indication whether he was innocent, and that he lied to the police.

The State has contended that it has a strong case against him.

Cloete submitted that the magistrate had under-emphasised the violence contained in the charges and had overemphasised the boy’s interests as a child.

National Prosecuting Authority Northern Cape spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the trial was set down to start on March 11.

The teenager was arrested for the murder of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, who were shot on their family farm Naauwhoek on April 6. 

Sapa

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Cape Town – Some Western Cape police officers have sided with gangsters and other criminals, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said on Wednesday.

He told the Cape Town Press Club that 87 officers were arrested in the last financial year alone for corrupt activities such as selling drugs to gangsters and participating in armed robberies.

Of these, 20 had been dismissed. The rest were still involved in criminal procedures.

“We also know that some of our police officers hire their guns out to people to commit crimes,” Lamoer said.

The department had registered all service firearms on a database to combat this trend.

Lamoer told reporters the province was afflicted by gang-related violence, substance abuse and illegal firearms.

The latest crime statistics released for the province showed a leap in drug-related crime between 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, from 70 588 reported cases to 77 069.

Illegal possession of firearms dropped slightly in the same period from 2 551 cases to 2 395 cases.

Gang-related crime was not indicated in national crime statistics.

Lamoer said the perceptions of communities were a more reliable indicator of crime than national statistics.

“I don’t believe in decreases and increases of crime of more than 10% to 15%, to 30%, 40% because something must be seriously wrong in crime [statistics] for it to fluctuate that way,” he said.

“We can celebrate the decreases in crime, but what difference does it make to a baby girl of 18 months who was raped? It doesn’t make any sense.”

He said the job of the police was to ask how they could go back to a community and change the perceptions of where they lived, or of the government that was tasked with protecting them.

Partnerships with various non-governmental organisations played a key role in keeping an ear to the ground and identifying victims, especially women and children.

Lamoer said these crimes were “sad and also very serious”, with victims of sexual offences getting younger.

He said on Wednesday morning alone, he had heard of three girls, aged four, five and 10, who were raped in separate cases.

“It is with people that they know: their fathers, their step-fathers.”

He said the police had “excellent partnerships” with non-governmental organisations such as Rape Crisis and The Pink Ladies, but more was needed to fight such crimes.

The partnership with the provincial social development department, for instance, was “not up to scratch” when it came to abuse.

– SAPA

File photo:(Car owners removing tree branches to find their way)

By Obakeng Maje

Manokwane- The public violence is something that is normal nowaday in South Africa. Manokwane residents, near Taung went on the rampage today protesting for poor service delivery.

More than three hundred residents embarked on strike on Tuesday North West pice said.

“Police were called on Tuesday night at around 19:46 at Mokwane after residents allegedly went on illegal strike for poor service delivery” Captain Funani said.

“No one has been arrested yet and police monitored the situation and left afterwards. The situation was stable and was back to its normal” she yelled.

The residents are demanding a tar road that link their area to town.

They barricaded a main road that links Manthestad and Taung Station with tree branches and stones.

This morning(Wednesday) were chanting and singing struggle songs heading to The Baga-Phuduhutswana Tribal Authority to hand in their grievances to their chief, Tshepo Mankoroane. 

“We will never give up until our grievances are heard.It is been four years demanding tar road, ut seems our plea falls in deaf ears” one of strikers who did not want to b named.

According to information received,some of strikers are facing arson and public violence charges after they allegedly burnt their headmaster’s house and their councillor few months ago.

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By Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza is set to be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the 21 players who will represent South Africa at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea from 28 October to 11 November.

The Sasol-sponsored women’s senior national team has been hard at training at the national camp which started in Johannesburg on Monday, 01 October. With overseas-based players in goalkeeper Roxanne Barker, and midfielders Kylie Ann Louw and Nompumelelo Nyandeni set to arrive in South Africa next Tuesday, the race for places in the team is hotting up.

“The Banyana Banyana players realise the importance of doing well at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 which will have a healthy impact on our current world and African ranking and nobody wants to miss out on competing in Africa’s showpiece event,” said Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana are currently ranked No 56 in the world and No 4 in Africa. The national team finished as bronze medallists at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg with Nigeria pipping Equatorial Guinea for top spot.

“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for making this national camp possible, and I can see the passion and discipline that is being displayed in training. None of the ladies want to be left out of the national team so the competition for places is fierce,” added the national coach.

All the players are fit and out to impress the technical team – except for central defender Janine van Wyk, who has been side-lined with a bronchitis infection for the remainder of the week, and midfielder Mary Ntsweng (absent due to tertiary exams).

“We realise that we need to beef up the strikeforce and have invited some new faces to the camp in the hope of unearthing talent that can add value to our current crop of players,” said Mkhonza.

Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) striker Silindile Ngubane, with 11 goals, was the leading goal-scorer at the Sasol League National Championships held in Umlazi, near Durban in July – she has reported for national team duty.

Maluti Ladies defender Zanele Dlamini (Sasol League Free State) is equally at home playing as a striker. Dlamini was identified by the Banyana Banyana coaches at the Sasol League Road Show held in Welkom earlier this year.

The third new attacker in camp is Letsete Ladies (Sasol League Free State) speedy striker Makhanya Makhalala.

Other news faces in the Banyana Banyana squad are City Lads (Sasol League Eastern Cape) holding midfielder Andisiwe Ndesi, Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) central defender Charlotte Mshenge,Midfielder Precious Matabologa from Kanatla Ladies (Sasol League Limpopo) and goalkeeper BJ Dladla (KwaZulu Natal Police team) are the other newcomers called to camp by Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana camp in Johannesburg (1 to 8 October 2012)

Goalkeepers:

Thokozile Mndaweni  (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Andile Dlamini   (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

BJ Dladla   (KwaZulu Natal Police)

Defenders:

Nothando Vilakazi        (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Amanda Sister             (Liverpool Ladies, Eastern Cape)

Janine van Wyk            (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Zamandosi Cele           (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Zanele Dlamini              (Maluti Ladies, Free State)

Charlotte Mshengu       (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Refiloe Jane                 (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

Lebogang Mabatle       (Hallelujah Zebra Force, Gauteng)

Midfielders:

Leandra Smeda          (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

Nocawe Skiti                 (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

Amanda Dlamini         (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Gabisile Hlumbane      (Kovsies Ladies, Free State)

Yola Jafta                       (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Precious Matabologa  (Kanatla Ladies, Limpopo)

Andiswe Ndesi              (City Lads, Eastern Cape)

Strikers:

Jermaine Seoposenwe     (Spurs WFC, Western Cape)

Noko Matlou                       (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Portia Modise                     (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Andiswe Mgcoyi               (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

Silindile Ngubane               (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Makhanya Makhalala         (Letsete Ladies, Free State)

Sanah Mollo                       (Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies, Free State)

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By Obakeng Maje

Forty-one thousand five hundred and forty-three households benefitted from water related projects in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality during the past three financial years. The North West Executive Council Extended Lekgotla that commenced on Wednesday morning at the Mmabatho Civic Centre noted that R384 million was spend in 14 projects to address water backlog in the district.

Fifteen thousand six hundred and thirty-nine jobs have thus far been created since 2009 to-date in the district through infrastructure programme and other local economic initiatives.

Insufficient bulk water supply compounded by population growth and immigration increase the water backlog identified as a challenge.

Centralising the planning and implementation of regional bulk at the district level to umbrella all the five local municipalities during planning of bulk services.

Seven trucks have been bought to assist with water shortages, outbreaks and disaster relief and distributed to Madibeng (2), Moses Kotane (2), Moretele (2) and Kgetleng Local Municipalities (1).

Premier Modise has said that the key objective of the one-day Lekgotla is to ensure that government remains accountable to the service delivery needs of communities and to do an introspection on the delivery of promised quality service since 2009 in order to assist finalise an implementable intervention plan to fast track the realization of pending promises before the end of the 5 years term.

MECs, Mayors, Heads of departments, CEO’s of parastatals as well as municipal managers and Chief Financial Officers are focusing on accelerating the pace and quality of service delivery as well as synergy in implementing delivery programmes in order to create jobs and strengthen government’s capacity to speed up the provision of services and infrastructure development.